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Research News

2012

The California Energy Commission has approved the 2011 Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) Annual Report, a summary of the programs achievements over the past year.

"As one of the nation's premier state-funded energy research, development, and demonstration programs, PIER has helped bolster California's status as a leader in energy innovation," said Energy Commission Chair Dr. Robert Weisenmiller. "PIER is vital to increasing the state's renewable energy portfolio standard and maintaining our leadership in energy efficiency. The program has also leveraged hundreds of millions of dollars worth of federal and venture capital funds into California and provided jobs for thousands of workers."
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Energy Commission Awards $1.5 Million For Smart Grid Research Projects

Funding for both projects comes from the Commission's Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) program. The smart grid is a system consisting of an electrical grid, a communication network, and computerized control systems to monitor, control, and manage the creation, distribution, storage, and consumption of electricity.
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Energy Commission Awards Almost $2 Million For Research Projects

The California Energy Commission today awarded $1,983,355 for two research projects, one targeting sustainable communities, while the other focuses on workforce training for smart grid jobs.
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2011

SACRAMENTO - The California Energy Commission today awarded $646,661 to UC Davis for a research project that will help improve the state's grid operator's ability to forecast wind energy generation.

"Improving the forecasts will help system operators deal with the intermittent nature of wind-based electric power and aid in making wind power work as an integral part of the grid," said Energy Commission Chair Dr. Robert Weisenmiller.
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Energy Commission Awards $227,000 to SMUD for Energy Storage Research

The California Energy Commission today awarded $227,000 to the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) for a research project demonstrating how energy storage can be integrated into local microgrids.

"Investing in energy storage research and testing is critical for meeting California's clean, renewable energy goals. Energy storage has the potential for helping improve a number of grid-related challenges including integration of intermittent renewables and maintenance of electricity system reliability," said Energy Commission Chair Dr. Robert Weisenmiller.
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The California Energy Commission has awarded $398,662 to the University of California, Davis to develop a forecasting tool that can be used by the state's grid operator to respond to sudden changes in wind power production.

"The research will help better integrate wind power into the electrical grid and improve the reliability of California's generation system," said Energy Commission Chair Dr. Robert Weisenmiller.
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Energy Commission Awards Nearly $475,000 for Energy Research Projects

Demonstrating its support of funding new pioneering technology, the California Energy Commission today awarded $474,157 for innovative research projects. The projects funded are from Public Interest Energy Research program's Energy Innovations Small Grant program.
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Energy Commission Awards Almost $1.6 Million for Energy Research Projects

The California Energy Commission has awarded $1,585,490 to spur research on projects including a battery system for grid-scale energy storage. Funds for the 13 projects come from the Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) program.

"By funding the Energy Innovations Small Grant (EISG) program, the Commission is making strategic investments in California. The EISG program - under the Public Interest Energy Research division -- is an innovative model leveraging roughly $70 in private funds for every $1 invested," said Energy Commission Chair Dr. Robert Weisenmiller.
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Energy Commission Awards SDG&E $1.2 Million for Research

The California Energy Commission has awarded $1,219,350 to San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E) for projects to accelerate research on plug-in electric vehicles and energy storage.
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Energy Commission Awards More Than $587,000 for Research Projects

The California Energy Commission has awarded $587,914 for research projects to promote clean energy technologies and develop an energy audit tool for wastewater treatment facilities. Funds for the two projects come from the Commission's Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) program.
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Energy Commission Awards More Than $840,000 for Energy Storage Research

The California Energy Commission today awarded $845,894 for research projects on energy storage. Funds for the projects come from the Commission's Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) program. "As we strive to reach the State's renewable energy goals, research in energy storage systems will reap significant benefits for California. Energy storage systems will improve efficiency and reliability in the electricity supply and facilitate the integration of clean, intermittent, renewable resources such as solar and wind," said Energy Commission Chair Dr. Robert Weisenmiller.
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A new process that uses municipal solid waste to produce increased amounts of biogas while reducing emissions has won a prestigious R&D 100 Award from R&D Magazine.
With the help of a $1,830,132 grant from the California Energy Commission's Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program, the Enhanced Renewable Methane Production System is being developed by Eurisko Scientific and the Argonne National Laboratory. The new technology is being demonstrated at the Sacramento Regional Waste Water Treatment Plant in Elk Grove, California.
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Energy Commission Awards Nearly $7.5 Million for Research Projects

The California Energy Commission has awarded $7,457,551 for 10 research projects. The research technology includes using waste-to-renewable energy, energy storage, and wind and solar projects. Funds for the projects come from the Commission's Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) program.
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On June 7, Secretary for Natural Resources John Laird and California Energy Commission Chair Dr. Robert Weisenmiller will release Cal-Adapt, a web-based climate change adaptation tool. By showing the potential effects to California, the tool will enable city and county planners, government agencies, and the public to identify potential climate change risks in specific areas throughout the state. An overview and demonstration of the website will be provided.
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Energy Commission Awards More Than $16 Million For Electric Vehicle Technology, Biofuels

EV Battery, Biofuel Research To Produce New Jobs for California The California Energy Commission approved more than $16 million for a variety of projects that demonstrate California's commitment to develop cleaner transportation choices and jobs for the future. The $16,115,638 in alternative transportation research leverages more than $9.6 million in private matching funds. The awards are funded from the Commission's Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Transportation (AB 118) program.
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Energy Commission Awards Nearly $2.9 Million for Research Projects

The California Energy Commission today awarded $2,872,755 for four research projects. The research areas include renewable energy, climate change, and the safety of natural gas pipelines.
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Energy Commission Awards Nearly $3.4 Million for Research

Alternative Fuels Research Awarded to UC San Diego. The California Energy Commission has awarded $3,357,965 for three research projects on low-carbon, alternative fuels, climate change and energy generation, and "green" job training. Funds for the three projects come from the Commission's Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) program.
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Energy Commission Awards $4.6 Million for Research Projects

State Grants Leveraged by Nearly $400 Million. The California Energy Commission awarded $4,643,200 for research projects to expand the state's smart grid, improve power plant pollution measurements, and conserve energy and water. The Commission's grants are leveraged by $392,709,016 of U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) funding, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds, and matching funds from the grant recipients. Funds for the six projects come from the Commission's Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) program..
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Energy Commission Awards $500,000 for New Lighting Research

The California Energy Commission awarded $500,000 for a research project to develop a more cost-effective way to manufacture light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Funding comes from the Commission's Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) program.
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Energy Commission Awards Nearly $1 Million for Research Project

The California Energy Commission today awarded $999,924 for a research project that will look at converting biosolids to energy. Funding comes from the Commission's Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) program.
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Energy Commission Awards Nearly $3.5 Million for Research Projects

The California Energy Commission awarded $3,454,247 for research projects tackling issues including reducing energy use, improving grid reliability, and saving fuel in light-duty vehicles. Funds for the eight research projects come from the Commission's Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) program.
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Carbon Capture and Storage Can Help Reduce California GHG Emissions

An independent review panel concluded in a recent report that Californians would benefit from long-term geologic storage of carbon dioxide to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Review Panel, formed last year by three state agencies - the California Energy Commission, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and the California Air Resources Board (ARB) - presented its findings and recommendations in their January 2011 final report.
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Energy Commission Awards Over $500,000 for Research Projects

The California Energy Commission today awarded $582,685 for research projects including one that will look at the effects of climate change on hydropower projects. Funds for the four research projects come from the Commission's Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) program.
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2010

Energy Commission Awards $725,000 for Energy Research

The California Energy Commission today approved $724,998 for energy research projects involving making high-tech windows more efficient and creating an analysis for energy storage technology. The two research projects are funded by the Energy Commission's Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) program.
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Energy Commission Awards Nearly $3 Million for Energy Research

Demonstrating the importance of funding innovation, the California Energy Commission today approved $2,868,787 for four energy research projects including solutions for retrofitting lighting in commercial buildings. The research projects are funded by the Energy Commission's Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) program.
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Energy Commission Wins National Recognition for State Leadership in Clean Energy

The California Energy Commission has received two State Leadership in Clean Energy (SLICE) awards from the Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA). The first award went to the Energy Commission's Public Interest Energy Research Program (PIER) for supporting an innovative agricultural waste-to-energy system at the Gill's Onions processing plant in Oxnard.
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Energy Commission Awards More Than $1.2 Million for Research

The California Energy Commission today approved $1,215,397 for research including developing methods for efficiently filtering CO2 from industrial emissions and lowering the cost of operating data centers. The four research projects to Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Porifera, Inc., and the University of California at San Diego are funded by the Commission's Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) program.
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California Energy Commission Awards $1.5 Million for Research Projects

The California Energy Commission today awarded $1,509,140 for research projects related to energy use in multi-family buildings and techniques to increase the survival of young desert tortoises. Funds for the two research projects come from the Commission's Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) program.
"Since 33 percent of California households live in multi-family buildings, the Commission feels strongly about improving the energy efficiency in these types of homes," said Energy Commissioner Jeffrey Byron. "In these tough economic times, Californians need to know that saving energy on their utility bills not only conserves power, but saves money."
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Nation's First Advanced Truck Research Center Unveiled Tuesday in Pasadena

With the goal of making trucks 50 percent more efficient in 10 years, industry, government and environmental community leaders will unveil the nation's first truck research center in Pasadena.

Funded by a $3 million grant from the Energy Commission's Public Interest Energy Research Program, the new virtual California Hybrid, Efficient and Advanced Truck (CalHEAT) Research Center will address the environmental challenge of pollution and greenhouse gas emissions produced by trucks and other heavy-duty vehicles.
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CA Energy Commission Awards $1.6 Million for Research Projects

The California Energy Commission today awarded $1,626,587 for variety of research projects including an industrial and commercial laundry system that uses less water. Funds for the four research projects come from the Commission's Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) program.
"The research projects we approved today demonstrate California's commitment to conserve water as well as energy," said Energy Commissioner Jeffrey Byron. "By investing in innovative R&D projects, California continues to showcase its technological advances to an audience around the block and around the globe."
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CA Energy Commission Awards $3.5 Million for Research Projects

The California Energy Commission today awarded $3,507,119 to help support research on a variety of projects. Funds for the research grants come from the Commission's Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) program.
"The PIER funds are an investment in California's clean energy future," said Energy Commissioner Jeffrey Byron. "The PIER program has a successful track record of developing innovative tools and technologies that benefit all Californians."
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Energy Commission Awards More Than $2.5 Million for Research Projects

The California Energy Commission today awarded $2,554,030 million for research projects tackling a range of issues including climate change, electric fuel, and energy storage. The funds come awarded from the Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) program.
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New Report Expands Understanding of Load Balancing Requirements in California

KEMA released results of a highly collaborative research effort to model the effect high-penetration renewables on intra-hour system operations of the California Independent System Operator (the ISO) control area. The findings are part of KEMA's report, "Research Evaluation of Wind Generation, Solar Generation, and Storage Impact on the California Grid," - MSNBC, June 23, 2010.

The California Energy Commission and Gills Onions were recently presented with the 2010 Green California Leadership Award at the Green California Summit and Exposition. In the category of waste management, the two received accolades for the Commission-funded Advanced Energy Recovery System (AERS) project implemented at the Gills Onions facility in Oxnard. The onion processing giant received $499,921 in grant funding from the Commission for the project. Video of the award presentation.Commission news release

Energy Commission Awards $2 Million
to PG&E for Battery Storage Research

The California Energy Commission awarded Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) $2 million for a 36-month demonstration project to study large-scale sodium sulfur battery energy storage. Once installed and operating, this will be the largest stationary battery energy storage system in California.
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